How many of you know what the popular brand ASDA stands for?
The immensely popular supermarket chain welcomes plenty of customers thanks to its affordable groceries, homeware, and clothing all under one roof. But people are just now realising what its name stands for.
It’s all to do with a 1965 merger.
Peter and Fred Asquith, who operated a butcher’s shop in Yorkshire, were inspired to explore the concept of an “under one roof” store after a visit to America, where they encountered Piggly Wiggly, potentially the world’s first supermarket.
Wanting to expand, the brothers reached out to Noel Stockdale at Associated Dairies, marking the beginning of a remarkable retail partnership on May 3, 1965.
Consequently, ASquith and DAiries merged, creating the name ASDA.
People are still discovering the true meaning behind the name to this day, as newsreader Alastair Stewart tweeted: “Without Google, do you know what the name ASDA derives from?”
Someone wrote: “I don’t know anything without Google, so no.”
Another said: “No, sorry, but about 35 years ago I used to know what BEJAM stood for!
“It was all the initials of the owners/children, I think! We had to learn about the company to ‘earn’ stars on our name badges, like McDs!”
Some did know what it stood for though, and one woman gushed: “YES! I had a four-week summer job on George and they had a week’s training about this!!!”
